Foster adds to Lady Mocs staff

Foster adds to Lady Mocs staff

June 13th, 2013by John Frierson in Sports - College

Brittany Johnson

Brittany Johnson

Photo by
Contributed Photo
/Times Free Press.

John McCray

John McCray

Photo by
Contributed Photo
/Times Free Press.

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women's basketball coach Jim Foster has hired two young assistant coaches, Brittany Johnson and John McCray, both of whom were with him in some capacity at Ohio State.

The hirings became official late Tuesday afternoon, allthough Johnson, who played for Foster at Ohio State (2007-11), was in Chattanooga earlier this month and participated in UTC's girls' basketball camp. Wednesday was the first day in town for McCray.

"I'm very happy with getting a couple of young people that want to coach and have a great work ethic," Foster said.

Johnson finished her Buckeyes career with 216 3-pointers, third all-time at OSU. She spent the past two years playing professionally overseas. This is her first coaching job.

"Coach Foster called me and said, 'I'd like you to be one of my assistant coaches,' and I took the job," Johnson said, adding, "This is a great opportunity and ... I'm ready to wrap up [playing] and start coaching."

McCray, a 2011 Ohio State graduate, was a video assistant for Foster during the 2010-11 season. He spent the past two seasons as the video coordinator at Saint Joseph's. Along with video duties for UTC, McCray will work with the post players.

The chance to be a coach and not just work behind the scenes lured him from St. Joseph's.

"That promotion, that bump up, and being able to get on the road recruiting -- I love to recruit ... and being able to get out on the road and see the kids play, that's something I'm looking forward to," McCray said.

For Foster and his new assistants, who join former Lady Mocs player and Wes Moore assistant Katie Burrows on the staff, this week is their first chance to see UTC's players in person. The Lady Mocs who are in summer school began working out with the coaches Tuesday.

Contact John Frierson at jfrierson@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6268. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/MocsBeat.